10 Old Wives' Tales Debunked

Separate fact from fiction when it comes to these commonly-held beliefs

We all grew up with sayings that were intended to frighten us into being good or convince us to eat better. Looking back, some of these childhood proverbs don't even make much sense. (Ever hear the claim that swallowed gum stays in your stomach for seven years? Uh-huh, sure.) However, there are quite a few axioms out there that people still believe in. That's why we decided to investigate 10 common old wives' tales to see how they hold up under scientific scrutiny. From the moon's affect on crime sprees to the true causes of colds, this list is sure to surprise even the most enlightened among you.

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1. Sitting too close to the TV will ruin your eyes.

False: Many interesting things are thought to increase during a full moon: emergency room visits, accidents, fertility, werewolves. Almost all these phenomena are attributed to the Lunar Effect, which tries to link deviant behavior and the phases of the moon. However, according to myth-buster and syndicated columnist, Cecil Adams, there is no truth at all behind the theory.